One example is High
Line Park, created from out-of-use elevated train tracks in Manhattan
and converted into
a park which opened in 2009. The public can walk atop the former tracks,
now covered with a platform and beautiful gardens. The park has dramatically
changed the neighborhood around it from one of shuttered factories and dreary
buildings to a place where developers have built numerous architecturally interesting
condos, apartments, and office buildings.

The park draws many visitors, creating opportunities for
small businesses like food truck owners and other vendors to sell their wares. A
steady stream of pedestrians also improves the area’s safety; the area was
formerly one where you most certainly would not go for a scenic walk.
Revitalizing a part of town once devoted to manufacturing and shipping, the
park creates a reason for other kinds of businesses to open, including a major
hotel.

The park didn’t come cheap: the first phase of the
conversion cost over $153
million in funds from the city, state, and federal government, as well as
private fundraising (of $44 million so far). As you might imagine, the cost of
creating parks—or maintaining existing ones—is extremely high. And although a
park might seem like a luxury in tough times, there are significant benefits. Beyond
improving property values and beautifying a community, a park adds new ways for
the public to experience their community.

Likewise, museums and other forms of culture benefit
communities. North Adams, Massachusetts, a former factory town struggling
economically, saw its fortunes revived by converting an empty factory into Mass MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of
Contemporary Art. It took a $45 million investment by the state to open the museum in 1999. (For
more on the museum, see Sociology
in Practice: Thinking About Culture).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MASS_MoCA_1.jpg

Museums and other artistic institutions are draws for
visitors, but also for potential residents who might be drawn to a community
because of the cultural experiences it offers. Cultural amenities attract other
creative residents. Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class,
argues that creative community members contribute to the quality of life where
they live and can revitalize struggling neighborhoods. This has been happening in Detroit, ironically; the low cost of living has attracted artists just as the city's museum is facing the possibility of auctioning off its pieces.

When cultural amenities close, more than just an
opera house or a theater goes away. You might not even like the opera, but
aside from offering jobs to performers and producers, restaurants catering to
attendees before or after shows lose business.Parking attendants working at lots serving patrons also lose their jobs.
And communities that have a smaller range of cultural events are less appealing
to educated and affluent potential residents who may enjoy having a variety of
cultural experiences nearby. Many affluent and educated people are from larger
cities and are accustomed to lots of choices of things to do, including
enjoying dining experiences, performances, and lectures. Vibrant communities
are both created and sustained through these cultural activities.

So even if you don’t like to walk in parks or see operas, if
you live in a place with appealing open spaces and a mix of entertainment
choices, you benefit. Your community creates more jobs and is more economically
stable. A variety of educated and creative people are interested in living in
the community, opening businesses like restaurants, galleries, and boutiques
that draw customers, enriching your tax base. A stronger tax base means that
schools have more funding, not to mention the cultural amenities to enrich
education.

Communities are often safer when law-abiding people are outside
in public spaces, bringing safety in numbers. Residents interact with each
other while enjoying these activities, further enhancing a sense of connection
with a community. Serving on boards and participating in fundraisers to support
the arts and community amenities furthers this sense of commitment and
connection to a community.

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Comments

I've been seeing a lot in the media lately about today's children not getting enough time outside and how it is having negative effects. Maintaining and creating new outdoor areas, such as parks, and cultural sites, promotes healthy living, which includes time outdoors.

I really agree with this article. If it were not for parks and museums under developed cities and communities just would not be the same. I also strongly agree with the comment by Kelsey Sunstrum how that children these days are not getting enough exercise. They are stuck indoors playing video games, watching tv, or just surfing the internet. I remember when i was younger I was always outside with my friends, from biking, hiking to go fish, basketball, and a whole bunch of other pick up sport games. We never played video games, all of that cool stuff didn't come out until most of my friends and I hit high school. The local parks were the main hangout spots for us as kids and really helped us develop a sociable lifestyle.